Views of Fort Jefferson

My sincerest thanks go out to fellow blogger, Dop Troutman, who sent me the following images he took of Fort Jefferson, Florida. Fort Jefferson was a military fortress built on an island off of the coast of Florida near Key West. During the Civil War, the base was also used as a military prison by the Union. After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the trial of the conspirators, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Samuel Arnold, Michael O’Laughlen, and Edman Spangler were sentenced to prison at Fort Jefferson. They were imprisoned here from 1865 until their subsequent pardons in February of 1869. Michael O’Laughlen died at Fort Jefferson in 1867 from a Yellow Fever epidemic that struck the base.

Dop, who writes about a variety of topics on his blog “View From the Jeep“, emailed me a couple weeks ago telling me he was planning on visiting the Fort and asked if I would like any photographs of anything in particular. I happily took him up on his offer telling him I would love any pictures he might be willing to send me, especially pictures of the conspirators’ cell from different angles. True to his word, Dop graciously sent me several photographs. I’m happy to share them along with Dop’s very detailed descriptions.

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“Sally Port is the only entrance to the fort. The 4 conspirators were all housed together in one open-air cell. That cell is directly above the Sally Port door. The three narrow windows above the door mark the cell:”

“These are of Mudd’s Cell after he was thrown in the “dungeon” following his attempted escape. There is no proof this was the actual location, but the conditions would have been the same. The interesting thing about the fort is that there were no doors, cells, or bars. It was an open-air prison. No “cages”, just guards stationed everywhere to keep prisoners in their place. However, the lack of food & fresh water and the oppressive heat usually took the spunk out of everyone:”

“There used to be a sign above the door that read something like “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter”, but its been removed:”

“You can see how large the space is. I’m sure Mudd shared this space with other prisoners. We estimate it to be about 1100 square feet:”

“This is the conspirators’ shared cell. All 4 were housed here beginning in late January 1866 until their release. O’Laughlen died here of yellow fever. Included are a few pics of the floor. You’ll see small canals cut into the floor. These were done by Mudd to divert rainwater from his bed. We measured the space as being 15′ by 40′:”

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Dave & Kate’s Speaking Engagements in 2018

Want to come heckle BoothieBarn authors Dave Taylor and Kate Ramirez in person? Here are some of our public speaking engagements planned for the future.

Date: Sunday, March 18, 2018Location: Jarrettsville Branch of Harford County Public Library (3722 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsville, MD 21084)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: Beware the People Whistling: The Final Days of Mary SurrattSpeaker: Kate RamirezDescription: In this first person reenactment, Kate will take on the role of Mary Surratt as she contemplates the events that have put her prison and on trial in the assassination President Abraham Lincoln.Cost: Free

Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018Location: Colony South Hotel and Conference Center (7401 Surratts Rd, Clinton, MD 20735)Time: AfternoonSpeech: The Death of Abraham Lincoln: Reactions from a Divided NationSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln was an unprecedented event in American history. From coast to coast, the dramatic news resonated deeply with people from all walks of life. Many cried for their fallen leader, while others privately condoned his death. The differing reactions to Lincoln’s assassination paint a vivid picture of how a divided nation mourns.Cost: Dave’s speech is one of several that will be presented as part of the Surratt House Museum’s annual Lincoln assassination conference. The cost for the whole conference, including three meals and the evening’s entertainment is $185. More details and information on registration can be found at http://www.surrattmuseum.org/annual-conference

Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018Location: Jarrettsville Branch of Harford County Public Library (3722 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsville, MD 21084)Time: 6:30 pmSpeech: Inter Arma Silent Leges: The Wrongful Execution of Mary E. SurrattSpeaker: Kate RamirezDescription: In this scholarly speech, Kate analyzes the evidence that was used to convict and execute Mary Surratt for her role in the death of Lincoln. Kate discusses the holes in the prosecution’s case and the reasonable doubt that exists in her conviction.Cost: Free

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2018Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: Shakespearean Daughter: The Life of Edwina BoothSpeaker: Kate RamirezDescription: Edwina Booth was the only child of tragedian Edwin Booth and his first wife, Mary Devlin. In her speech, Kate will discuss the events that shaped Edwina’s life and how her life mirrored the Shakespearan characters her father enacted on stage. More information will be posted later at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, May 20, 2018Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: Joseph Booth: The Youngest Brother of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: Of all of the Booth brothers, it was only the youngest Booth, Joseph Adrian who shunned the spotlight. Born into a family of actors, young Joseph only briefly entered the family profession before realizing he exited the stage for good. While far less is known about Joseph than his famous (and infamous) brothers, the details we we do know paint a fascinating tale of an enigmatic brother. In his speech, Dave will examine the life of Joseph Adrian Booth and the impact Lincoln’s assassination had on his life. More information will be posted later at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, September 9, 2018Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: Shakespearean Daughter: The Life of Edwina BoothSpeaker: Kate RamirezDescription: Edwina Booth was the only child of tragedian Edwin Booth and his first wife, Mary Devlin. In her speech, Kate will discuss the events that shaped Edwina’s life and how her life mirrored the Shakespearan characters her father enacted on stage. More information will be posted later at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, October 7, 2018Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: Joseph Booth: The Youngest Brother of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: Of all of the Booth brothers, it was only the youngest Booth, Joseph Adrian who shunned the spotlight. Born into a family of actors, young Joseph only briefly entered the family profession before realizing he exited the stage for good. While far less is known about Joseph than his famous (and infamous) brothers, the details we we do know paint a fascinating tale of an enigmatic brother. In his speech, Dave will examine the life of Joseph Adrian Booth and the impact Lincoln’s assassination had on his life. More information will be posted later at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall